Triggerfish Animation Studios

Triggerfish Animation Studios, or simply Triggerfish, is a computer animation film studio based in Cape Town, South Africa. The studio is best known for its animated feature films Adventures in Zambezia[1] (2012), Khumba (2013), and the work they have done on television specials created for UK producers Magic Light Pictures. In 2016, Stick Man was awarded the Cristal for best TV production at the Annecy International Animation Festival.[2] In 2017, Revolting Rhymes again won the Cristal for best TV production at the Annecy Festival,[3] and was nominated for the Best Short Film (Animated) Oscar at the 2018 Academy Awards.[4] In 2019, Netflix [5] announced that Triggerfish would produce its first African animated TV series. In 2020, Zog won the International Emmy for Best Kids Animation.[6]

Triggerfish Animation Studios
Industry
Founded1996
Headquarters
Cape Town, South Africa
Key people
  • Stuart Forrest (CEO)
  • Anthony Silverston (writer & director)
  • James Middleton COO & Producer)
  • Jean-Michel Koenig (CFO)
  • Mike Buckland (animation producer)
Websitetriggerfish.com

History

Triggerfish was established in 1996 by Jacquie Trowell and Emma Kaye in Cape Town, South Africa.[7] As a stop-motion animation studio, it produced multiple commercials for South African ad agencies. From 1998 through 2008, Triggerfish produced animation for Sesame Workshop for the South African version of Sesame Street, Takalani Sesame, as well as the US domestic and international versions of the pre-school kids' program.

Stuart Forrest joined as a junior animator in 2002 to work on Takalani Sesame for seasons two and three. In 2004, Forrest and James Middleton became partners in Triggerfish and in 2005 became the sole partners when the original founders left the company. In 2007 Anthony Silverston joined as creative director, and Mike Buckland joined as head of production. At the same time, the company moved away from stop-frame animation and relaunched as a computer animation studio.

In 2008, Triggerfish created a 30-minute short entitled The Rise and Fall of Tony the Frog. The short was produced by Ambient Animation in Cape Town[8] for Isaac Entertainment.

Feature Films

From 2006, the team began to shift focus to motion pictures by writing their first script Adventures in Zambezia, with US-based rights company Wonderful Works. The script went into production in 2009 and was released in 2012. In 2010, the studio started production on Khumba which started its worldwide release in Q3 2013. Triggerfish are now working in their third feature provisionally called Seal Team.[9]

Television animated series

On April 16, 2019, it was announced that Netflix had given a series order for the animated superhero series Mama K's Team 4.[10] The series is expected to be produced by the studio in collaboration with CAKE.[10] Malenga Mulendema will be credited as an executive producer and writer of the series.[5]

Story Lab

In mid-2015, Triggerfish announced the Triggerfish Story Lab, a program that aimed to develop African writers and directors. The initiative had the support of the Walt Disney Company.[11] Mama K's Team 4, the first Netflix Original animation series from Africa, was one of the projects unearthed by the Triggerfish Story Lab.[12]

Triggerfish Academy

In June 2019 Triggerfish launched a free online learning platform aimed at encouraging young creatives to create their first animated film.[13]

Filmography
Feature films
# Title Release date Budget Gross Rotten Tomatoes Metacritic
1 Adventures in Zambezia July 3, 2012 $20,000,000 $34,428,345 25% N/A
2 Khumba October 25, 2013 $20,000,000 $27,000,000 44% 40
3 Seal Team[9] TBA
Television specials
# Title Release date
1 Stick Man[14] (for Magic Light Pictures) December 25, 2015
2 Revolting Rhymes[15][16] (for Magic Light Pictures) December 26, 2016
3 The Highway Rat[17] (for Magic Light Pictures) December 25, 2017
4 Zog[18] (for Magic Light Pictures) December 25, 2018
5 The Snail and the Whale[19] (for Magic Light Pictures) December 25, 2019
Television series
# Title Release date
1 Mama K's Team 4[10] (for Netflix) TBA

Feature Film Awards & Nominations

Adventures in Zambezia
  • 2012 Best South African Feature Film at The Durban International Film Festival[1]
  • 2012 Best Animation at South African Film and Television Awards
  • 2013 Best Animation at Africa Movie Academy Awards
  • 2013 Best Children's Feature at Anima Mundi
  • Nominated for Best Music in An Animated Feature (Bruce Retief) and Voice Acting In An Animated Feature (Jim Cummings) at the 2013 Annie Awards
  • Nominated for Best Male Vocal Performance in An Animated Feature (Jim Cummings) at the 2013 Behind The Voice Actors Awards
  • Nominated for Best Director (Wayne Thornley) & Best Original Score (Feature Film) at the 2013 South African Film and Television Awards[20]

Khumba

Prior to its release, Khumba screened in competition at Annecy International Animation Festival 2013 and was in the Official Selection of Durban International Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival 2013.

  • Gold Panda Award for Best Foreign Animation (2013)
  • Gold Panda Award for Grand Prize (2013)
  • 2014 Best Animation at South African Film and Television Awards
  • 2014 Best Music Composition for a feature film at South African Film and Television Awards
  • 2014 Best Animation at Africa Movie Academy Awards
  • Nominated for Best Male Vocal Performance (Liam Neeson and Steve Buscemi), 2015 Behind The Voice Actor Awards[21]

Short Films Awards & Nominations

Belly Flop
  •  2018 Gryphon Award for Best Short 6+ at Giffoni[22]
  • 2018 Best Animation, Africa Movie Academy Awards[23]
  • 2019 Audience Prize: Favorite Short Animated Film, Children's Film Festival Seattle
  • 2018 Children's Jury Award at Cinemira in Budapest[24]
  • 2018 Best In Show and Best In 3D at Longwood Animation Film Festival[25]
  • 2018 Czech TV Audience Award at Zlin Film Festival[26]
  • 2018 Special Mention at Cinema In Sneakers Film Festival in Warsaw
  • 2018 Best Local Film at Kleinkaap Short Film Festival
  • 2018 Family Shorts Award at Tenerife International Short Film Festival
  •  2018 Audience Award: Best Short Film at Animatopia ICAF
  • 2019 Special Jury Award at CMS International Children's Film Festival
  • 2019 2nd Place: Best Short Film at Kingstoon International Animated Film Competition
  • 2019 Grand Prize: Short Film at Seoul Guro Kids Film Festival
  • 2019 Audience Award for Best Short Animation at Festival Internacional de Cine para Niños
  • 2019 Audience Award for Best Short Animation at Madrid Film Festival FCM-PNR

TV Series Awards and Nominations
Production Ceremony Category Recipient Result
The Snail and The Whale British Animation Awards, 2020[27] Best Voice Performance Sally Hawkins Won
British Animation Awards, 2020[28] Best Longform, Best Use of Sound Max Lang, Daniel Snaddon & Magic Light Pictures Nominated
Zog International Emmy Awards, 2020[29] Best Kids Animation Max Lang, Daniel Snaddon & Magic Light Pictures Won
Royal Television Society, 2020[30] Children's Programme Award Max Lang, Daniel Snaddon & Magic Light Pictures Won
Shanghai International TV Festival, 2019[31] Best Animation Max Lang, Daniel Snaddon & Magic Light Pictures Won
New York International Children's Festival, 2019[29] Audience Award: 3-6 Max Lang, Daniel Snaddon & Magic Light Pictures Won
Annie Awards, 2020[32] Best Special Production and Best Storyboarding (Max Lang) Max Lang, Daniel Snaddon & Magic Light Pictures Nominated
British Animation Awards, 2020[33] Best Longform Max Lang, Daniel Snaddon & Magic Light Pictures Nominated
Kidscreen, 2020[33] Best One-Off, Special or TV Movie Max Lang, Daniel Snaddon & Magic Light Pictures Nominated
The Highway Rat Rose d'Or[34] Children and Youth Magic Light Pictures Won
New York International Children's Film Festival, 2018[33] Audience Award: 3-6 Magic Light Pictures Won
Vila do Conde International Short Film Festival, 2018[33] Curtinhas Prize Magic Light Pictures Won
Annecy International Animated Film Festival, 2018[33] Best TV Special Magic Light Pictures Nominated
Annie Awards, 2019[33] Best Animated Special Production Magic Light Pictures Nominated
Revolting Rhymes 90th Academy Awards[35] Best Animated Short Film Jakob Schuh

Jan Lachauer

 Nominated
70th British Academy Film Awards[36] Best Animation Jakob Schuh

Jan Lachauer

Martin Pope

Michael Rose

 Won
6th International Emmy Kids Awards[37] Kids: Animation Michael Rose

Martin Pope

Magic Light Pictures

 Won
Annecy, 2017[38] Best TV Special Jakob Schuh

Jan Lachauer

Magic Light Pictures

 Won
Annie Awards, 2018[38] Best Animated Special Production Magic Light Pictures Won
Kidscreen Awards, 2018[38] Best One-Off, Special or TV Movie: Kids Magic Light Pictures Won
Shanghai International TV Festival, 2017[38] Best Storytelling: Animation Magic Light Pictures Won
Stick Man 69th British Academy Film Awards[39] Best Animation Production Team Nominated
British Animation Awards[40] Best Use of Sound Adrian Rhodes

Magic Light Pictures

 Won
Best Voice Performance Martin Freeman

Magic Light Pictures

 Won
Best Long Form Jeroen Jaspaert

Daniel Snaddon

Magic Light Pictures

 Nominated
Annecy International Animated Film Festival[41] Best TV Production Magic Light Pictures Won
Kidscreen Awards[41] Best One-Off, Special or TV Movie: Kids; Best Directing (Jeroen Jaspaert); Best Music (Adrian Rhodes); and Best Design (Sam King) Magic Light Pictures Won
Banff Television Festival[41] Best Animation Magic Light Pictures Won
Shanghai International TV Festival[41] Best Animation Magic Light Pictures Won
Singapore International Children's Film Festival[41] Audience Choice Award Magic Light Pictures Won
Bangalore Shorts Film Festival[41] Best Animation Magic Light Pictures Won

References
  1. Teo Kermeliotis (April 22, 2012). "Zambezia 3D animation puts South Africa film in the picture". CNN. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
  2. "SA animation 'Stick Man' wins top TV prize at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival". Times Live. 26 June 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  3. "Magic Light Pictures Celebrates Success at Annecy". Animation World Network. Retrieved 2018-09-28.
  4. "2018". Oscars.org | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 2018-09-28.
  5. Vourlias, Christopher (April 16, 2019). "Netflix Picks Up Its First Animated Series From Africa, 'Mama K's Team 4'". Variety. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
  6. https://www.iol.co.za/entertainment/movies/news/zog-wins-international-emmy-for-best-kids-animation-45901636
  7. Mfonobong Nsehe (October 1, 2012). "Meet The Man Behind Triggerfish". Forbes. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
  8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-12-02. Retrieved 2013-11-18.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. Szalai, Georg (November 15, 2013). "South African Animation Studio Triggerfish Gets Funding, Plans Action-Comedy 'Seal Team' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter.
  10. "Netflix announces first original African animated series Mama K's Team 4". Netflix Media Center. April 16, 2019. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
  11. "South African Animation Studio Triggerfish Launches Story Lab With Disney Support". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2017-08-30.
  12. https://qz.com/africa/1598854/netflix-picks-mama-ks-team-4-as-first-african-childrens-animation/
  13. "Triggerfish launches free career-focused learning platform for animators". Gauteng Film Commission. Retrieved 2019-08-30.
  14. "Triggerfish's 'Stick Man' to screen on BBC". Screen Africa. 8 December 2015. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  15. "Dominic West leads an all star cast to bring Revolting Rhymes by Roald Dahl to BBC One this Christmas". BBC. 21 October 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  16. Wright, Jonathan (26 December 2016). "Boxing Day's best TV: Revolting Rhymes; The Witness for the Prosecution". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  17. Milligan, Mercedes (September 8, 2016). "Magic Light Producing 'The Highway Rat' for BBC One". Animation Magazine. Retrieved February 18, 2017.
  18. "BBC - BBC One and Magic Light announce Zog for 2018 - Media Centre". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-09-28.
  19. "BBC - BBC One and Magic Light announce The Snail and the Whale for Christmas 2019 - Media Centre". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-11-06.
  20. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1488181/awards?ref_=tt_awd
  21. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1487931/awards?ref_=tt_awd
  22. https://www.goodthingsguy.com/lifestyle/belly-flop/
  23. https://qz.com/africa/1473637/watch-award-winning-animated-short-film-belly-flop/
  24. https://www.goodthingsguy.com/lifestyle/belly-flop/
  25. https://www.goodthingsguy.com/lifestyle/belly-flop/
  26. https://www.goodthingsguy.com/lifestyle/belly-flop/
  27. https://www.britishanimationawards.com/baa-2020-finalists-announced/. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  28. https://www.britishanimationawards.com/baa-2020-finalists-announced/. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  29. https://www.iol.co.za/entertainment/tv/streaming/sa-animated-show-zog-gets-international-emmy-nomination-35004210. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  30. https://www.awn.com/news/royal-television-society-honors-zog-childrens-programme-award. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  31. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9109620/awards?ref_=tt_awd. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  32. https://annieawards.org/nominees. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  33. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7546096/awards?ref_=tt_awd. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  34. "News". www.rosedor.com. Retrieved 2019-02-15.
  35. "2018". Oscars.org | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 2019-02-15.
  36. "Children's Awards Winners 2017". www.bafta.org. 2017-10-18. Retrieved 2019-02-15.
  37. "'Revolting Rhymes' Wins International Emmy for Best Kids' Animation". Animation World Network. Retrieved 2019-02-15.
  38. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6386210/awards. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  39. "2016 Children's Animation | BAFTA Awards". awards.bafta.org. Retrieved 2019-02-15.
  40. "British Animation Awards (2016)". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-02-15.
  41. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5095510/awards?ref_=tt_awd. Missing or empty |title= (help)
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